5 Key steps to support healthy liver function for hormonal balance, increased energy levels and fat burning!!
Toxin overload effects liver function causing a medley of detrimental effects in the body!
Naturopathic medicine will always incorporate liver support in to treatments, it is central to health and wellbeing!
The liver is a major organ of metabolism and detoxification! A healthy functioning liver is essential for our overall wellbeing, mood, energy and hormonal balance. Love your Liver & Love your Life!!
The Essential Role of the Liver
The liver is a major blood store, 1.4 litres of blood pass through the liver every minute, to cleanse and purify our systems. This busy organ can easily get overloaded with the amount of toxins we are faced with daily in our modern worlds.
The liver has a major role in:
Fat metabolism
Carbohydrate metabolism
Protein metabolism
Storage
Hormone conversions such as converting our thyroid hormone T4 in to T3
Metabolising and excreting our sex hormones
DETOXIFICATION - Removing toxins from our body
Toxin Overload
Common toxins: insect repellants/sprays, sunscreen, skin care products, household cleansers, deodorisers, air fresheners, just to mention a few....
The liver's role is to chemically change these toxic substances in to a more water soluble form for the kidneys to excrete. If the liver gets overloaded with toxins, it's capacity to detoxify diminishes and our bodies become overloaded with toxins, causing detrimental health effects.
Fat Holding
As most of these toxins are fat soluble, they start to accumulate in to our fat tissues, excess body fat is like a sink for toxins, it draws them in. If we accumulate a high level of toxins in to our fat cells, the body starts to hold on to this fat to protect the body. If you were to lose fat rapidly, a high level of toxins would be released in to your blood and be potentially harmful to you liver and kidneys. So the body starts to hold fat.
Signs of an Overloaded Liver
Poor upper digestive function: wind, bloating, belching, heartburn, reflux, nausea
Intolerance to fatty foods
Constipation
Overloaded immune system: allergies, autoimmunity, skin issues
Fatigue
Low motivation
Low mood: angry, irritable, depressed
Oestrogen dominance
Low thyroid function
Poor sleep; waking between 1 - 3 am
Heat in the body: hot flushes, sweating
5 TOP TIPS TO LOVE YOUR LIVER
Herbs: Bitters: stimulate bile flow which has a cleansing effect on the liver: such as gentian, dandelion root, globe artichoke. Tumeric and schizandra are good liver tonics and St Mary's Thistle is highly antioxidant to the liver and hepatoprotective, it prevents liver cell damage through toxic substances. A great herb for the modern age. Naturopathic medicine will always support liver function as it is central to all treatments.
Allium family vegetables: garlic, leek and onions, contain sulphur compounds, being an essential component in the liver detox pathways, they help to increase liver detoxification. Toxic accumulation in the body can be due to sulphur deficiency.
Apple cider vinegar and leon juice in warm water in the morning: this daily ritual helps to stimulate bile production within the liver, giving it a good cleanse to start the day. It also switches on other digestive secretions, improving digestion and metabolism.
Eliminate cheap oils: remove all margarines, vegetable oils, transfats, processed foods and take away will contain cheap oils. These choke the liver and reduce it's supreme fat burning capacity. No reheated oils, do not heat oils to high temps - this causes oxidation. Only use extra-virgin, cold pressed oils: olive oil, coconut oil, flax oil, nut and seed oils, fats are good, but we need quality fats.
Avoid toxins: take a look at your household cleaning products, skin care, shampoo's, beauty products, sprays, perfume etc - move to low tox living. It's the daily exposure to these chemicals that contributes to poor liver function!
For a more in depth health appraisal or for extra support creating healthy diet and lifestyle habits for cleansing your liver.